The Indianapolis journal., 1887-11-29
a SOUTHEAST PASSAGE.

Official returns of the late election in Vir-
einia show a total Republican vote of 116.94O
against total Democratic vote of 1885,
Democratic majority 2,615. There are six
counties not included in this return, and
which on fair estimate would increase the
Democratic majority to about 5000. But
the fact remains that after very earnest
contest, in which the Legislature and a
United States Senator were at stake with the
State government under Democratic control
and with the aid of federal patronage, the
Democratic majority on the face OF thereturns
ia only 2.6I5 out of a total vote of 236, 795.
This is very interesting and suggestive
situation. We make attempt to analyze
the vote or the canvass. Whatever causes or
influences may have contributed to the result,
there it is In 1880 Virginia gave Hancock
43, 956 majority; in 1894 it gave Cleveland
6, ,141; in 1887 it gives Democratic majority
of 2,615. One more bite at that cherry will
finish it, The figures show steady decrease
of the Democratic majority, and indicate
beyond doubt that Virginia, politically
speaking, is on the turn. It is as much
debatable ground as New York or Indiana.
and judging by the returns OF the last few
years, the Republicans may as reasonably
hope to carry it as either of these. Certainly
reduction OF the Democratic majority of
nearly a. 900 in 1880 to paltry $500 in
1887. fully iustifies the statement that Vir-
ginia is on the point of coming over to the
Republican side of the line. In this situation
it becomes at once the plain duty and the
plain policy of the Republican party to make
vigorous effort to carry Virginia next year
The Republicans of that State have been
making gallant fight year after year, and
without much encouragement or assistance
from outside they have been steadily gaining
ground and making important inroads into
the enemy's lines. The time has come when
their cause should be made national, and
when the Republican party should
| make systematic and determined effort
| to carry the State. The war should be
| ried into Africa. Republican speakers and
| canvassers should be sent into every county
| and corner of the State, and its claims as the
industry, of free labor and equal rights,
| should be asserted in the highways and by
WAYS of Virginia as they never have been
| before. Bourbonism should be bearded in its
| den. The Democratic party should be
painted as it really is, mass of antiquated
| traditions and prejudices, the natural enemy
of progress, an obstacle to the developement
| of the State and an incubus to be gotten rid
| Of There are plenty of Republican speakers
| in the North capable of presenting these
| matters in a way that will powerfully impress
| the people of Virginia, and that cannot fail
| to give a new impetus to the anti-Bourbon
movement in that State. At the same time
| thorough arrangements should be made to get
| out the entire Republican vote of the State
| and to see that it is cast and counted. There
are half dozen Southern States that on a
| full and fair vote are Republican, but none of
them are quite so ripe for the ha rvest or so
convenient of access as Virginia. That is the
weak point in the enemys lines. Nowhere
else are the conditions so favorable for an
aggressive Republican movement. With
proper effort Virginia can be carried, and the
solid South, once broken, can never be
restored. West Virginia and Tennessee
| should not be long in joining the Republican
procession, if, indeed they can not easily be
placed in line next year. along with old Flr-
ginia, the boasted mother of Presidents.